Chelsea and Newcastle target Coutinho to discuss transfer when football is back to normal, claims agent
CHELSEA and Newcastle target Philippe Coutinho will only discuss any potential transfers when football is back to normal, according to agent Kia Joorabchian.
The former Liverpool star, 27, is seemingly surplus to requirements at Barcelona and is set to be sold on his return from his loan at Bayern Munich.
Coutinho joined the Nou Camp giants in January 2018 for a staggering £142million fee but failed to replicate his best form in Spain.
Barcelona's willingness to sell a host of stars in order to fund their own transfer dreams has seen the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle step forward to consider a move for the Brazilian.
Agent Kia Joorabchian says no decisions will be made until "some sort of normality" returns.
Speaking on , Joorabchian said: “Philippe at the moment, he’s at Bayern, but he’s sidelined at the moment.
“He’s had an injury, he had an operation two weeks ago on his ankle and he is six weeks for recovery for that.
"That unfortunately means he’ll probably miss a chunk of the Bundesliga. Hopefully he’ll be fit for the tail end of the season.
“But in terms of the rumours? At the moment we have not spoken to anybody about any deals whatsoever.
“I think at the moment everyone’s concentration is on this pandemic and how football can restart in a safe and secure environment, and the health of safety of everybody.
“The transfer side of things and where Philippe will go, or where other players will go, will come into play further down the line when things have got back to some sort of normality.”
RIVALDO PLEA
Meanwhile, Barcelona legend Rivaldo has urged Coutinho to get his career back on track by offering to slash his wages to prove his commitment.
He told Betfair: "Chelsea are the favourites to sign Coutinho and I don't believe they will be put off by his recent injury.
"After all, next season is still very distant and he will have enough time to a completely recover.
"On the other hand, if the transfer doesn't go forward and he stays at Barcelona perhaps a salary reduction, based on the player's decision, could earn plaudits from the board.
"[It would] maybe show that he is eager to remain at the club and finally prove his worth.
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"Yes, there are many clubs already reducing their players' salaries because of coronavirus crisis...
"But if the player takes a step forward in that themselves it would be seen as the attitude of someone interested in remaining at the club.
"Much could happen before next season and we can only wait for the next chapters of this story."